Town Meeting Day ballot question will determine if Chittenden County will have 911 central call center

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Updated: 6:55 PM EST Feb 26, 2018

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WEBVTT RENEE: I SPOKE WITH EMERGENCYTHEY WANT THIS DISPATCH CENTERUNION IS CALLING FOR A NO VOTE.'>> THE REASON WERE DOING THIS ISAPPROXIMATELY 16,000 911 CALLSTHAT TRANSFER TIME TAKE 70RENEE: THIS TIME COULD BE SHAVEDTOWNS WILL ALL HAVE THISMANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THESE>> EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM WILLRENEE: DISPATCHERS HAVETHEY ARE URGING NEIGHBORS TO>> WE HAVEN’T BEAT -- BEEN SHOWNRENEE: IT IS ULTIMATELY UP TOA YES VOTE DOES NOT MEAN IT ISIF THREE TOWNS OR CITIES

Seven Chittenden County towns will vote next Tuesday on whether to form a new, regional dispatch center. "The reason we're doing this is better service to the community, better service to the safety staff," Colchester Deputy Manager Aaron Frank said. Right now, 911 calls in the county go to six different locations. "Approximately 16,000 911 calls that occurred last year, that transfer time takes about 70 seconds on average," Burlington Fire Chief Steven Locke said. Seventy seconds these officials said could be saved if all the calls come into a central location. The seven towns will all have this question on the ballot: "Shall we (Town Name) enter into an agreement for the formation of a union municipal district to be known as the Chittenden County public safety authority, for the purpose of providing regional emergency dispatch?" Many of the departments in those towns hope citizens vote "yes." "To have everyone in that room, to help one another- both from a mental health of the staff standpoint, a workload of the staff standpoint, and a potential response to the community," South Burlington Police Chief Trevor Whipple said.But some dispatchers have concerns. They're urging neighbors to vote "no." "We currently are not in support of the regional plan that's been proposed," said Kathryn Clark, an emergency communications specialist for Burlington Police and Fire departments. "We're not opposed to a regional center in general, we just haven't been shown anything better than what we already have." The town meeting day vote is just the first step. A yes vote doesn't mean it's over -- and neither does a no vote -- if at least three towns or cities approve moving forward. If they do, city councils and select boards in those towns can vote on whether or not to pay for the new center and its services.ALL TOWN MEETING DAY BALLOT QUESTIONS ON DISPATCH CENTER VOTE:Burlington: Question 2Colchester: Article 15Milton: Article 7Shelburne: Article 7South Burlington: Article 4Town of Williston: Article 9Winooski: Article 6

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

Seven Chittenden County towns will vote next Tuesday on whether to form a new, regional dispatch center.

"The reason we're doing this is better service to the community, better service to the safety staff," Colchester Deputy Manager Aaron Frank said.

Seventy seconds these officials said could be saved if all the calls come into a central location.

The seven towns will all have this question on the ballot:

"Shall we (Town Name) enter into an agreement for the formation of a union municipal district to be known as the Chittenden County public safety authority, for the purpose of providing regional emergency dispatch?"

Many of the departments in those towns hope citizens vote "yes."

"To have everyone in that room, to help one another- both from a mental health of the staff standpoint, a workload of the staff standpoint, and a potential response to the community," South Burlington Police Chief Trevor Whipple said.

But some dispatchers have concerns. They're urging neighbors to vote "no."

"We currently are not in support of the regional plan that's been proposed," said Kathryn Clark, an emergency communications specialist for Burlington Police and Fire departments. "We're not opposed to a regional center in general, we just haven't been shown anything better than what we already have."

The town meeting day vote is just the first step.

A yes vote doesn't mean it's over -- and neither does a no vote -- if at least three towns or cities approve moving forward.

If they do, city councils and select boards in those towns can vote on whether or not to pay for the new center and its services.